Hypodermic needle protector



Dec. 13, 1955 w. M. FLEMING HYPODERMIC NEDDLE PROTECTOR Filed June 22, 1954 Fig.3

Mm IT m fm E M m M M x w W United States Patent 2,726,759 HYPODERMIC NEEDLE PROTECTOR William M. Fleming, Norfolk, Nebr. Application June 22, 1954, Serial No. 438,378 2 Claims. (Cl. 206-43) This invention relates to the art of packaging and more particularly to a novel hypodermic needle protector.

The primary object of the present invention resides in the provision of a practical and convenient holder for the protection of hypodermic needles as packaged by the manufacturer whereby one or more hypodermic needles can be easily dispensed in a protected state.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a hypodermic needle protector which may be used and reused thereby maintaining the needle against damage during the life thereof.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a hypodermic needle protector which enables the convenient and safe packaging of a plurality of hypodermic needles while permitting the various individual housings to be broken away for use separately for dispensing and individual use as may be desired.

objects and features of this invention reside In the provision of a hypodermic needle protector and durable, simple in construction and manufacture, capable of being readily constructed from various materials, and which is inexpensive to produce thereby permitting wide distribution and utilization.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this hypodermic needle protector, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of the hypodermic needle protector;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional detailed view of the invention; and

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the plane of line 3-3 in Figure 2.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral generally designates a hypodermic needle protector constructed in accordance with the concepts of the present invention. This hypodermic needle protector includes two rows of housings of resilient plastic material such as polyethylene, the housings of one row being substantially the mirror images of the housings of the other rows and the respective housings of each of the rows being designated by numerals 12 and 14, respectively.

The inner adjacent ends of the housings 12 and 14 are triangular shaped in cross section as is seen as at 16 and 18 and are joined by perforated break joints 20.

The individual housings 12 and 14 of each of the rows of housings are joined to the adjacent housings of the same row thereof by integrally formed linking joints comprising connector tips 22 and 24. The connector tips 22 and 24 also serve to space the housings 12 and 14 from one another.

Each of the housings 12 and 14 is formed with enlarged recesses 26 and 28 therein for reception of the hypodermic needle point 30. The recesses 26 and 28 have extending thereinto from the inner walls 32 and 34 of the housings a plurality of ribs as at 36 and 38 which are angularly spaced. The ribs 36 and 38 are resilient in construction and are adapted to resiliently engage the shank 40 of the hypodermic needle 42 to hold the needle in position while further providing a safeguard for the point 30 of the needle. It is to be recognized that the spacers 22 and 24 serve to permit the hypodermic needles 42 to be readily and easily inserted into the housings 12 and 14.

The hypodermic needle protector 10 is formed from a suitable readily available substance such as polyethylene or other suitable plastic material. It is to be recognized that an individual housing 12 or 14 could be broken away as may be desired from the other of the housings so that an individual needle may be dispensed within its housing to a customer at a drugstore or the like.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A hypodermic needle protector comprising two opposed rows of housings, each of said housings having inner end portions of triangular shape in cross-section, each of said end portions being integrally formed with the inner end portion of the adjacent housing of the other row thereof with said rows being connected only at the apices of said triangular shaped end portions, and each of said housings being integrally connected to the adjacent housings of the same row thereof.

2. A hypodermic needle protector comprising two opposed rows of housings, each of said housings having inner end portions of triangular cross-sectional shape integrally connected by a perforated break joint therebetween with the inner end portions of the adjacent housing of the other row thereof, a breakaway joint integrally connecting each of said housings of the same row thereof While spacing said housings of the same row from each other with said rows being connected only at the apices of said triangular shaped end portions, each of said housings having longitudinal hypodermic needle receiving re- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

